Hellobee Boards Topic: How did you know to throw in the towel?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How did you know to throw in the towel? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:56:01 +0000 winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel/page/2#post-202223 Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:02:53 +0000 winniebee 202223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ So glad I went. Not that there was an easy fix to the breasteeeding (she thought it was perfect storm of him having reflux and me having forceful letdown) - she gave me some tips and was encouraging but even with her help we couldn't get him to drink for long enough. All he took from me was an ounce and a half (he drinks at least 3 now). The solution is to consult with doc about reflux (explains his burliness and gassiness) and continue to work on BF while supplementing each feeding with an ounce and half of milk....and pump on top of it to keep my supply up. While I haven't spoken with DH about it I think I just need to throw in the towel on drinking from the boob and just pump and give him bottles of pumped milk. The road ahead to getting him to stay on my breast for more than 5 minutes knowing all the while that (1) it may not work and (2) enduring Tyler screaming at the breast in the meantime. I am sad about it and feel a little like a quitter but honestly I've been so stressed about bf and his gain etc etc that it has taken away from my mothering experience. So that's where I'm at. brownie on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel/page/2#post-201238 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:09:01 +0000 brownie 201238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: I bought a little home scale and did the weigh and eat and weigh thing for a while. Having it at home really helped me when I was worried about his weight and how much he was eatting. It also gave me something concrete to talk to the doctors about. This is the one I picked up and overnighted <a href="http://www.amazon.com/FAO-Schwarz-Toddler-Scale-White/dp/B0054L4VB4/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1340647717&sr=1-3&keywords=baby+scale" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/FAO-Schwarz-Toddler-Scale-White/dp/B0054L4VB4/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1340647717&sr=1-3&keywords=baby+scale</a> winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel/page/2#post-201234 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:04:25 +0000 winniebee 201234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I spoke with an LC today who was encouraging but not all that helpful (gave me a bunch of tips that I've already tried and said to stick with it another week....) Decided to pay to meet with a service tomorrow that does the weighing thing before and after the feeding etc. It's pricey but at this point I think it's worth it! We shall see.... pastemoo on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel/page/2#post-200238 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 19:17:11 +0000 pastemoo 200238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Hugs. I haven't figured out a solution to any of it. I just take it one feeding at a time--and sometimes I pump the one side that hurts more if I just can't take it anymore. winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-200198 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:36:06 +0000 winniebee 200198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @BabyBruins: Wow, thanks so much for sharing - I just keep thinking this is a phase and he will hopefully grow out of it. I do try to massage his head and shhh him to make him slow down and he does do better with it overnight when he's more sleepy (nursed for 10 minutes each time I nursed him last night). I spoke with an LC today and they do the weight measurement before and after a feeding so I think if I can tell he's getting enough in the 5 minutes I will feel much, much better. BabyBruins on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-200195 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:32:59 +0000 BabyBruins 200195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: I'm so sorry you are struggling with this. I went through very similar issues. For a few weeks (about 15-18 weeks actual age/9-12 weeks gestational age), he would cry as soon as he unlatched or when I would switch sides. I would often offer him a bottle after feeding, sometimes he would take, sometimes he wouldn't and he was constantly gaining weight so I didn't worry about him not getting enough. I tried snuggling him or giving him a pacifier as soon as he was done eating, but neither worked. It was just a phase and he grew out of it. My guy has ALWAYS been a fast eater. He takes his bottles down super fast and usually only spends 5 minutes on each side. When I pump, I get almost all of my milk in the first 5 minutes so I figure he can get his whole feeding in that time. I've tried to slow him down by taking loud deep breaths or shushing him while he eats. I know it's hard right now, but it can get better and you will look back one day soon and laugh about how difficult it used to be and how effortless it has become. I really hope that is your experience. I'm getting close to weaning and it definitely makes me sad. CObee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-200154 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 16:29:35 +0000 CObee 200154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: just a quick thought as my 3 month old sleeps/bf's/fusses on me - she started getting really fussy on my boob probably a month and a half ago - sooo frustrating. After a lot of experimentation and time spent trying to figure her out, it turns out she does it because she's tired. She's one of those babies that hates falling asleep for some reason, and nursing makes her sleepy, thus pissed off. I've found if I nurse her while walking around and jiggling her, or especially while gently bouncing on our yoga ball, she is distracted enough to calm down and eat. Not fun, but what we have to do to get milk in her. Wanted to offer that tidbit i case it helps you too! Good luck! brownie on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-200146 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:59:06 +0000 brownie 200146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: I am sorry about lll. They have been good in my area but we don't have many lactation consultants. Pumping sounds like a great plan. You can also try latching etc later if you are doing that and want to. Sometimes a break is a great thing. Great luck and great job!!! mrsmenow on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-200102 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:18:08 +0000 mrsmenow 200102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: I think you are being such a trooper. I think meeting one more time with a LC is a good idea and even if you end up pumping and bottle feeding your baby is still getting all the good stuff he needs. You are a great momma! winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-200087 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:39:09 +0000 winniebee 200087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thanks again to everyone for their support. It's more of the same. Going on one week, he will only feed 5 minutes on one side, pushes himself off and then screams when I put him back on either breast. And sometimes acts hungry after and will take up to an ounce of pumped milk via bottle. DH is still very encouraging and doesn't want me to quit, but I dread breastfeeding at this point and feel like it is taking away from the mothering experience (and clearly DS is not happy, either). I'm going to pay to meet with a lactation consultant on Monday or Tuesday (LLL was very disappointing - never even returned my calls) and give it one final good old college try before moving towards pumping and giving him bottles. I'm really sad about it, but I'm not sure how much more of this I can endure. LivsMama on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195898 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 07:55:35 +0000 LivsMama 195898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: @Mrs. Jacks: Liv definitely had green, frothy poop and would SCREAM after feedings for like a week, and my LC told me about the foremilk thing. When I got that under control, she got better and she never had a green poo again. I can tell you, I considered calling it quits around the 6 or 8 week mark. It seemed to reach a peak of bad right then, and then all of a sudden it got better and easier and was just FINALLY natural. Someone over on WB at the time kept me going as she ran into the exact same thing as me. She told me to set mini goals, and each time I reached them, re-evaluate then. So I set my sights on 3 months. Then 6. Then when I got to 6, I said "Im doing this for a full year." Liv is 11 months now and still going. And I dont plan to stop fully at 12 months. Ill aim for 18 (am and pm feedings) and then re-evaluate then. It gives you an end in sight and something to work towards. I remember the frustration and the screaming and the crying (me, not her :) ) but I promise it becomes a distant memory. That being said - if you decide that its not working out-that is ok. You have to do what is best for both of you. Also, I do think its possible that he is getting his 2.5oz in 5 minutes. Babies are very effective at emptying the breast, and combined with your fast letdown, it is very plausible. winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195876 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 06:40:56 +0000 winniebee 195876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Jacks: the internet is a dangerous place! Our pediatrician didn't get jazzed about my hind milk/ fore milk theory. I haven't called about this new feeding pattern yet though I think I should. winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195875 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 06:38:58 +0000 winniebee 195875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MsMini: thank you so much! It seems like e is getting ticked/give up when the letdown slows or when he needs to wok at suckling when my breast is almost drained - we change positions buy it usually does not elp But then if I offer him the other breast (I know not great for the oversupply) he gets flooded an ticked and all result in screaming. So much so that I can't get him back on at all. Either that or he's bot hungry anymore. Not sure how to et him to drink for more than 5 mins! Mrs. Jacks on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195515 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:26:43 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 195515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It can be totally frustrating, but it sounds like you are on the right track. I'm not a huge fan of the hindmilk, foremilk distinction and had never heard the green poop thing until you told me about it the other day. I found articles from 1909 and in the lay literature, but nothing to substantiate the green stool foremilk problem. Nothing any of us is going to say is going to make this any easier (except maybe that we feel your pain), but I'd say before you completely throw in the towel, consider just pumping the slightest bit off before you feed and/or consider eliminating lactose from your diet (just speaking as a mom here). Also make sure you chat with your pediatrician. Lactation folks are great, but sometimes their recommendations differ from what we find in the evidence base :) MsMini on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195513 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:23:53 +0000 MsMini 195513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I just sway this post now, I haven't posted much about it, because from all my breastfeeding courses I took for work I knew how to manage all of our issues, but me and Sawyer haven't had an easy time with breastfeeding. I have flat nipples, so even before he was born I wore breastshells for a month, and then I wore them for the first month of his life. Even with that, he was unable to latch on my right side because it was too fibrous for the first 3 weeks, so we used a shield, and then spent week 3 weaning it off because he was finally strong enough to latch on that side. He has low weight gain in the first week and a half, which finally resolved itself around week 3 as well. The low weight gain was especially frustrating because I also had crazy over supply, and he was so fussy from the fore milk/hind milk imbalance that I just felt terrible. It took block feeding him until he was 6 weeks old to finally get that under control, andy Saywer as well, gets mad even now at 8 weeks when the letdown slows, which leads to us fighting it out to get him well fed enough (I end up changing feeding positions every 2 minutes after the letdown slows at the 4 minute mark). Luckily he still only feeds for 10-12 minutes total, so at least he is speedy. It is normal to have our struggles, and I think setting small goals is key in getting through. That being said, when the cons outweigh the pros in your mind regarding continuing to breastfeeding, there is no shame in doing whatever will make your Mom/baby relationship more comfortable. brownie on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195397 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:49:23 +0000 brownie 195397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: Wonderful that you had one good day (and night). Oh blessed sleep. He could be getting enough in 5 minutes. They start to get very efficient at eatting. Especially if he didn't want more from the bottle. Try burping and/or gas drops make sure that isn't the issue. I know la leche doesn't follow this but we found we had more success when we followed the clock a bit more. It let whatever was in his belly empty before he filled it up again. We fed every 3 hours for a very long time. runsyellowlites on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195382 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:41:29 +0000 runsyellowlites 195382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: If he's gulping then maybe he's gassy?.. My mom brought something to my attention when I was struggling with DD like that (latch suck cry unlatch repeat)... All baby's know is their tummy hurts, they don't "know" the difference between hurting & hungry. I noticed when DD was real gassy or had deep gas bubbles (she was a gulper too & would swallow tons of air eating) she'd act like she was hungry & wanted to nurse but would fuss tons. Have you tried a pacifier maybe? I know for DD when she's gassy & needs to burp but is hurting so she wants to suck, if I give her the pacifier while I pat her back, or even just cradle her, she burps easier! winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-195349 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:21:58 +0000 winniebee 195349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sigh. So today DS has been nursing for only 5 minutes at a time. A few times he seemed hungry so I tried to put him back on and he screams. I tried giving him a bottle after feedings and he only took a half ounce. I called LLL for advice but haven't heard back. Could he truly be getting enough milk in 5 minutes?? He's a gulper but I really wonder if hr could get the 2.5 ounces he normally takes in just 5 mins..... owlmom on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194820 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:03:15 +0000 owlmom 194820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: Yea for good sleep! It makes a world of difference when you can start the day with better sleep behind you :) You're doing awesome! regberadaisy on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194790 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:34:51 +0000 regberadaisy 194790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrs. wagon: hehe I'm tempted to ask Mr. Bee if I can go edit that post! It's horrific! mrs. wagon on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194752 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:13:53 +0000 mrs. wagon 194752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: oh winnie so happy to read this comment from you... Honestly for every 10 bad days there will be one good day and it will be enough to get you through to the next!!! YAY for solid blocks of sleep (he's growing!!!!!!) and keep tapping us for support as you go through your BFing journey.... it's definitely the hardest thing I've ever had to do, hands down, no questions asked!! @regberadaisy: lol! I was reading your post and while it was such a great response, I kept giggling at the errors! I figured you were typing on your phone in the dark!!!! regberadaisy on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194728 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:55:54 +0000 regberadaisy 194728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Holy errors on my post! That's what happens when you post in the dark, on a iPhone, at 3am in the morning! Sammyfab on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194701 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:33:07 +0000 Sammyfab 194701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ You've gotten tons of great advice and you are definitely not alone in your struggles! We had a rough go for the first month. I couldn't get LO to latch on at all without extreme fussing from him and major frustration from me! I was ready to throw in the towel and exclusively pump and i had set 4 weeks as my deadline. Then, 3 days after the 4 week mark, he just flipped a switch and decided he wanted to breastfeed and he was nursing every 1-2 hours that day. I was sooo happy about this but then I got clogged ducts, mastitis, blisters, and I felt like a walking milk factory because LO would cluster feed for hours in the evening. Then I went into oversupply and I was constantly questioning how much LO was getting, if he was getting enough or too much, etc. At around the 8 week mark things got much better and we are definitely in a groove now. I am so glad LO has been nursing and sleeping better for you. My best advice is to put your happiness first in this situation. A happy mama = a happy baby (and the added stress can affect your supply). Lozza on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194696 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:12:26 +0000 Lozza 194696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @winniebee: Good job! Glad Tyler gave you a bit more of a break last night. I think that's a lot of what helped me get through- having a good day here and there interspersed with the really rough days. I always kind of thought I had a rough time breastfeeding, but hearing stories from the other ladies here makes me feel like I had it easy! I did NOT like breastfeeding for a long time... basically until I went back to work when LO was 9 weeks and I didn't have to do it all the time. I actually really liked pumping- I could pump a ton of milk in a short time for several months, I always knew what to expect, the pump never rejected me, etc.... so when I was pumping all day and only BFing at night and on the weekends that actually made me like it a lot more and not stress so much about the occasional bump in the BFing road. I took a lot of comfort from talking to friends about how it would get better. One of my best friends has an LO 4 months older than mine, and she had said that they hit a real low point around 6-7 weeks old, and I definitely experienced that as well, but it helped to know that it was normal and it would pass. I'm really glad I kept up with the BFing... LO just continued to get better and better at it, and especially once I went back to work I liked the closeness, I liked the exclusivity of it (does that sound bad? I just liked the fact that this was something no one else could do for/with him), and I liked the convenience (esp. w/re: travel). winniebee on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194691 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 06:43:51 +0000 winniebee 194691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Can I just say that this is why I LOVE Hellobee?? Thank you so, so much for sharing your stories with me and for cheering me on. Reading about your experiences makes me feel like I can do this and that giving it just a little more time may make all the difference. I think it will also help to do as some of you suggested - set mini milestones and think of one day at a time. I just can't imagine giving up nursing at this point as hard as it seems. It also helps that Tyler slept for a FOUR hour stretch followed by a THREE hour stretch last night. And nursed well last night and this morning. We have another day of BF behind us and I can do this today! regberadaisy on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194669 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:37:23 +0000 regberadaisy 194669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Im so sorry ;( I agree with a pp that there is no right answer here. As long as your baby is getting fed and gaining weight it does NOT matter if it's at the boob, from a bottle or formula. I made a decision from the very start that I wanted to give bf my best try and do what's best for our daughter and not what's easiest. The nights at the hospital were rough. LO cried for hours on end. We finally found out she was just not getting enough from me. The feeling that I was literally starving my child is like no other. So we started supplementing with a SNS system. Things were good. Then by her fourth night she was refusing the boob. Crying non stop Ruth her blood curling scream for four hours straight. we broke down and tried a bottle and pacifier but age would not take either. On her fourth day in this works at 3am in the morning we rushed her to ER because we were so afraid something else was wrong. I never wish that feeling on anyone. After being checked over turns out she was hungry. And of course she took a bottle from the nurse no problem. Again I was faced with the feeling of being the wurst mother on this planet for once again starving her child. In the last couple weeks she has started fussing at the boob which has never happened this often before. Often she just won't nurse so I have to hand her off and have my husband or mon giver her a bottle of formula. Now I'm starting a milk protein elimination diet to see if that's causing her fussiness and perhaps fussiness at the boob. All the while anytime LO is fussy my mon's answer is she doesn't like to eat from your boob, you don't have enough milk keys give her a bottle. All things in very aware of but doesn't help that she throws it in my face all the time! Anyway just wanted to let you know you are not alone. I have spent many nights crying because of feeding/guilt issues. Please remember too the first couple weeks your emotions are ALL over the place. I could not stop crying for the life of me. Why do I keep going? Because I do know Brest is the best for her. So long as the issues are on my end. Or something I can change to make her less fussy then I will keep breast feeding. And honestly back at work now I miss nursing her all day! Never thought I would say that, but I do. Nothing beats that first nursing sessiOn when I get home. Or that calm sleepy session in the morning. Do what is best for baby and you! MamaCate on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194666 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 01:52:36 +0000 MamaCate 194666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I thiknk you can see that.you are not aolne in struggling with this based on all this feedback! I just wante to chime in to say the irst weeks were a strugglee for me too--verted nipples, slow weight gain, cracked nipples and toe curling pain at every latch. It started to get better between 6 and 8 weeks. We had a fussy period like you mentioned and i cant remember how long it lasted but we got through it slowly. I think sbe was less fussy at night and i made sure she ate well then and tried not to force it. By the time i went back to work it was all in good shape and now we are doinx great at 6 months. Good luck! sandy on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194656 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:49:23 +0000 sandy 194656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Breastfeeding is so hard and can be do stressful! You are not alone in having these feelings! I remember struggling so much early on and just wanting to quit. Like Mrs. Wagon said, you just have to take it one day at a time and don't stress out about the future...just make it through the week, then the next. Looking back my problems weren't terrible, but at the time I was so stressed about the painful and sore nipples, over active let down, LO spitting up or being fussy during nursing or crying during nursing, blisters and clogged ducts...and we also had the too much weight lost in her first week...I never thought I would be able to make it to my goal of 6 months. BUT somewhere around 3 months it got better and so much easier and I'm relieved I was lucky enough to get through it. We are now at 7 months and 2 weeks. owlmom on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194653 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:29:08 +0000 owlmom 194653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm so sorry you're struggling! I truly feel for you. Whether you choose to keep going or not is a totally personal choice, and please, please, please don't feel bad if you choose to stop. For a lot of us, breastfeeding is just really hard. I've been through a laundry list of breastfeeding problems - flat nipples, baby not gaining weight, nipple shields, cracked nipples that caused my baby to ingest and spit up blood (and me to rush her to the ER in the middle of the night because I didn't realize it was my blood, not hers), a two and a half month battle with thrush, undersupply, milk blisters, oversupply, and crazy plugged ducts - one of which required 12 hours worth of doctors visits to rectify. Eight months later, we're still breastfeeding and I love it, but it was definitely a battle to get here. I cried a ton. In the beginning, I made it my goal each day to breastfeed for just one more day. I nearly quit a couple times, but like @mrs. wagon, on a day that was going to be my last day, we'd have a good day, and it would convince me to keep going. I worked with a lactation consultant, which was a huge help. Also, if you decide to keep going, I encourage you to build a breastfeeding support system. Whether it's this community, your friends, or a group like LLL, having someone cheering you on can really make a difference. The encouragement I received here, from LLL, and from a couple dear friends made it so much easier to keep going. skibobrown on "How did you know to throw in the towel?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel#post-194623 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 22:49:41 +0000 skibobrown 194623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I can totally relate to breastfeeding frustrations and wanting to throw in the towel. I can't tell you what to do. My problems were very different from yours (major low supply), which led me to give up on the dream of exclusively breastfeeding, and I'll be giving up breastfeeding entirely in a couple of weeks when I return to work. It still makes me sad, but all signs pointed to the fact that I would never be able to exclusively breastfeed, so that's why I threw in the towel. To me it seems like some of your breastfeeding problems are probably only temporary, so while I'm sure it's extremely frustrating right now, it might be worthwhile to stick with it for just a while longer.